Monday, February 28, 2011

On invitation of President Carlos P. Garcia, the 16th International Scout Conference held at Cambridge, England, in August 1957, unanimously approved to hold the 10th Boy Scout World Jamboree in the Philippines.

This was the first time in the history of the Scouting movement that an international gathering of this kind was held in the East. Eight of the previous World Jamboree were held in Europe: one, the eight in Canada.

The 10th World Jamboree was held on a 300-hectare sprawling country side at the Makiling National park, Los Baños Laguna home of the proving of the foremost Filipino hero, Jose Rizal. The Jamboree site was 1000 feet above sea level and the only about 2 hours ride from Manila road.

12,000 Scout and Scouters 4,000 from over seas Scout Association and 8,000 Filipinos from 69 countries attended the Jamboree.

The theme of the Jamboree was “Building Tomorrow Today” which underscores the popular idea that the youth of today will be leaders of tomorrow.

Turn-of-the-century postcards featuring an artist rendition of what the Americans has considered the colonized Filipinos to be - “The White Man’s Burden”. Pretending earlier to be good friends and allies of the Filipinos in their common fight against the Spaniards, the American had no qualms double-crossing the unsuspecting Aguinaldo and is hapless leaders and followers in the pursuit of its colonial policy. And after successfully inflicting on the Philippines its imperialist design which has nurtured since the star of the Spanish-American War, Uncle Sam has the gall and the territory to add insult to injury by labeling its poor victims, the colonized Filipinos, as a “white man’s burden”.

An unusual Swiss chocolate card featuring Gen. Aguinaldo and his army battling the Spanish force. The Filipino revolutionary soldiers were depicted like African native using bow and arrows in their battle. At that time most European counties viewed the Filipinos as unsophisticated citizens incapable of self-rule and independence

The CEDULA during the Spanish colonial period, was an identification card and residence tax certificate that had to be carried at all times. A person who could not present his or her cedula could be arrested and imprisoned by the Guardia Civil.

Photo courtesy of GMA 7

On August 23, 1896, a crowd of katipuneros was gathered
around their Supremo, Andres Bonifacio, in Kangkong, Balintawak. Bonifacio
spoke of how the secret organization had been betrayed to the Spanish
authorities and warned of the dangers they all now faced. Armed revolution against
the Spanish colonizers was the answer, someone suggested, and the Katipunan
should start it. A few members disagreed but were outvoted by the rest.

The crowd shouted their approval. They tore their cedulas and declared themselves free from Spain. The cedula had until
then been the people's only passport to freedom in their own country.

The air rang with the people's jubilant cries: "We
are free from slavery!" "Long live the Tagalogs!"

The katipuneros decided to wrest Manila and the Tagalog region
from the Spaniards and achieve final and lasting independence for the nation.
The attack on Manila was set for midnight of August 29.

Here are samples of cedulas during the Spanish and American wars.

1896 Cedula Personal issued in Manila. This is similar to the cedula torn by the Katipuneros

1896 Provincial Cedula Personal issued in Iba, Zambales

1896 Cedula Personal complete and unused

1898 Cedula Personal issued to Chinese residents by Aguinlado's revolutionary government in Pangasinan